Lionel Scaloni is relieved and calmer after Argentina beat Iceland 3-0

JAKARTA - Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni admitted he was relieved and calmer after his squad beat Iceland 3-0 in the last friendly match before the 2026 World Cup at the Jordan-Hare Stadium, Alabama, USA, Wednesday WIB.

Quoted by Antara from the website of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Scaloni is relieved because all the players he brought to the match are free from injury.

"The game also made me lose some doubts about this team," he said.

Scaloni assessed that his players performed convincingly throughout the match against Iceland. They defended well and played football according to plan.

The tactician who led Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup also appreciated the performance of all his players, including those who will make their World Cup debut such as Nico Paz, Giulano Simeone and Valentin Barco.

Barco even scored a goal against Iceland (8'). Argentina's 3-0 victory was completed by Lionel Messi's goal (penalty 72') and Thiago Almada (87').

"Seeing the players perform to the fullest on the field gives me the feeling that this team is solid. We are in an important moment and will fight to the last (in the 2026 World Cup - ed)," said Scaloni.

Meanwhile, regarding the replacement for his squad's central defender Leonardo Balerdi who was injured and confirmed to be absent from the 2026 World Cup, Scaloni said he was still waiting one to two days.

In the 2026 World Cup, Argentina is in Group J with Algeria, Austria and Jordan. Their first match in the group was held on Tuesday (16/6) Kansas time, United States, against Algeria.

Six days later, they will play Austria and, finally, on Saturday (27/6), meet Jordan.